Liberal, Irreverent

Friday, September 26, 2008

The Hill's Blog Roundup: September 26, 2008

BLOG ROUNDUP - SEPTEMBER 26, 2008
 

McCain: The Gambler in an Age of Gamblers, Bankruptcies and War

 

by Brent Budowsky

 

John McCain says the economy is strong and sound. Days later, John McCain says we might have a depression and cancels his campaign. McCain has not been in the Senate since April. Now McCain airlifts his desperate campaign and presidential politics into the heart of sensitive negotiations on a subject he knows nothing about and has been wrong about for 26 years.

 

Here is McCain's latest lie: that he wants to deal with the crisis in a bipartisan manner. Obama calls him early Wednesday morning seeking bipartisanship. McCain does not take the call and does not return the call for half a day. He then talks to Obama about being bipartisan and minutes later runs to the cameras to cancel the debate and airlift himself into the crisis. What a phony!

 

Congress must and will pass a program, though it must be carefully devised, written and done in stages rather than dumping nearly a trillion dollars on the problem ad hoc. But get this straight: There may be a recession but anyone who even uses the word "depression" is either ignorant about economics or outright lying to frighten people to serve their blind financial greed or blind political ambition.

 

Of course the loud-mouthed traders on CNBC predicting doom and depression without full immediate funding don't tell you this. They are the ones who caused the problem. They are the ones whom taxpayers are bailing out. Their conflict of interest is extreme, and never disclosed. Of course they want all the money, now, because it is an income transfer from hard-hit Americans to wealthy speculators who made bad bets. They are phonies, too, and liars if they try to scare Americans with extreme and hot-tempered talk of fear when what they really want is for scared taxpayers to bail out of their greedy bad bets.

 

The market is corrupted by gamblers, and John McCain is the biggest gambler of all. The market is corrupted by dishonesty and John McCain is one of the most dishonest candidates in years, reduced to cheap political stunts, erratic extremes on policy, claiming economic strength one day and promoting fears of depression the next, and phony bipartisanship, refusing to talk to Obama for half a day, then running to the cameras.

In the America of Wall Street speculators, George Bush, John McCain and Republican economics, we are treated like a banana republic nation with a finance of greed, a politics of fear,] and a bread and circus of falsehoods and deceptions.

 

Of course McCain does not want a debate, but it is a debate he will have, like it or not, and the question is this:

 

Do Americans want another reckless gambler in the White House? I think not

Tuesday, September 23, 2008

Palin field trip to the United Nations

Sarah got her first ever passport last year and she is like a little girl with a new toy, "daddy, daddy look at what I got".
 
It just shows how little respect John McCain has for the institution of the presidency.
 
While Obama called his decision of a running mate the most important decision he had to make as a candidate and selected Joe Biden because he is a complement to him; McCain selected an extreme right wing beauty queen, completely unprepared, under ethics investigation with a record of shady accomplishments. She even had to lie to beef up her poor resume.
 
I am ashamed that Palin could be seen as representing the United States of America.

Wednesday, September 17, 2008

Message from Barack Obama to the American people

"In the past few weeks, Wall Street's been rocked as banks closed and
markets tumbled. But for many of you – the people I've met in town
halls, backyards and diners across America – our troubled economy
isn't news. 600,000 Americans have lost their jobs since January.
Paychecks are flat and home values are falling. It's hard to pay for
gas and groceries and if you put it on a credit card they've probably
raised your rates. You're paying more than ever for health insurance
that covers less and less.

"This isn't just a string of bad luck. The truth is that while you've
been living up to your responsibilities Washington has not. That's why
we need change. Real change. This is no ordinary time and it shouldn't
be an ordinary election. But much of this campaign has been consumed
by petty attacks and distractions that have nothing to do with you or
how we get America back on track.

"Here's what I believe we need to do. Reform our tax system to give a
$1,000 tax break to the middle class instead of showering more on oil
companies and corporations that outsource our jobs. End the 'anything
goes' culture on Wall Street with real regulation that protects your
investments and pensions. Fast track a plan for energy
'made-in-America' that will free us from our dependence on mid-east
oil in 10 years and put millions of Americans to work. Crack down on
lobbyists – once and for all — so their back-room deal-making no
longer drowns out the voices of the middle class and undermines our
common interests as Americans.

"And yes, bring a responsible end to this war in Iraq so we stop
spending billions each month rebuilding their country when we should
be rebuilding ours. Doing these things won't be easy. But we're
Americans. We've met tough challenges before. And we can again. I'm
Barack Obama. I hope you'll read my economic plan. I approved this
message because bitter, partisan fights and outworn ideas of the left
and the right won't solve the problems we face today. But a new spirit
of unity and shared responsibility will."

Saturday, September 13, 2008

Colbert Report: Repo Man, A Bush Economic Success Story

Courtesy of C&L
Windows Media: http://www.crooksandliars.com/Media/Download/32748/1/tcr-repo-man-091108.wmv

QuickTime: http://www.crooksandliars.com/Media/Download/32748/2/tcr-repo-man-091108.mov

At least the Bush years have been good for someone.





“I love the economy. I’m going to miss Bush. Ol’ Bush gets out of office I don’t know what we’re going to do, but I’m speaking for all repo men, Bush, we’re going to miss you buddy. Ha ha, ha ha. For real.”

Do you think John McCain will say that his economic plan will increase the number of Repo Men in our country which will stimulate the job market?

McCain and Palin have lied at least 31 times on the Bridge to Nowhere

http://thinkprogress.org/lies-nowhere/

From the day he nominated Gov. Sarah Palin (R-AZ) to be his vice presidential running mate, Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) and his campaign advisers have been repeating the lie that Palin opposed the infamous Bridge to Nowhere. (In fact, Palin repeatedly expressed strong support for the project.)

So-Called Energy Expert Sarah Palin Doesn’t Know How Much Energy Her State Produces

http://thinkprogress.org/2008/09/13/palin-alaska-energy/

On Wednesday, Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) defended Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin’s “experience does she have in the field of national security” by asserting that “she knows more about energy than probably anyone else in the United States of America.” McCain’s claim to Palin’s expertise was undercut the next day, however, when Palin severely overstated Alaska’s energy production in an interview with ABC News’s Charlie Gibson.

Challenged by Gibson on her “national security credentials,” Palin cited her experience as the governor of a “state that produces nearly 20 percent of the U.S. domestic supply of energy” as a credential that she “brings to the table“:

PALIN: Let me speak specifically about a credential that I do bring to this table, Charlie, and that’s with the energy independence that I’ve been working on for these years as the governor of this state that produces nearly 20 percent of the U.S. domestic supply of energy, that I worked on as chairman of the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, overseeing the oil and gas development in our state to produce more for the United States.

But, as the non-partisan FactCheck.org points out, Palin’s claim about Alaska producing 20 percent of America’s domestic energy supply is “not true. Not even close.” In fact, “Alaska’s share of domestic energy production was 3.5 percent.”

McCain is NO MAVERICK. Just 4 More Years of Bush

McCain Strategy: Lie, Baby, Lie

McShame is desperate, and desperate times require desperate measures.

Wednesday, September 10, 2008

McCain Once Blamed Palin's Bridge for the MN Collapse

Taken from http://www.dailykos.com/

by Kagro X
Wed Sep 10, 2008 at 11:45:57 AM PDT
We now know that the truth is that Slick Sarah Palin supported the Bridge to Nowhere before she "opposed" it.

But did you know that the man responsible for foisting her on America blamed that bridge and Palin's hunger for federal pork for the collapse of the infamous August 2007 I-35 bridge collapse in Minnesota?


Read it from The Minnesota Independent (there are videos and everything)
http://www.minnesotaindependent.com/8052/mccain-connected-35w-bridge-collapse-to-palins-pork

Maureen Dowd's List of Questions For Sarah Palin

by Todd Beeton, Wed Sep 10, 2008 at 07:15:41 PM EST

Taken from http://www.mydd.com/

What kind of budget-cutter makes a show of getting rid of the state plane, then turns around and bills taxpayers for the travel of her husband and kids between Juneau and Wasilla and sticks the state with a per-diem tab to stay in her own home?

Why was Sarah for the Bridge to Nowhere before she was against the Bridge to Nowhere, and why was she for earmarks before she was against them? And doesn't all this make her just as big a flip-flopper as John Kerry?

What kind of fiscal conservative raises taxes and increases budgets in both her jobs -- as mayor and as governor?

When the phone rings at 3 a.m., will she call the Wasilla Assembly of God congregation and ask them to pray on a response, as she asked them to pray for a natural gas pipeline?

Does she really think Adam, Eve, Satan and the dinosaurs mingled on the earth 5,000 years ago?

Why put out a press release about her teenage daughter's pregnancy and then spend the next few days attacking the press for covering that press release?

As Troopergate unfolds here -- an inquiry into whether Palin inappropriately fired the commissioner of public safety for refusing to fire her ex-brother-in-law -- it raises this question: Who else is on her enemies list and what might she do with the F.B.I.?

Does she want a federal ban on trans fat in restaurants and a ban on abortion and Harry Potter? And which books exactly would have landed on the literature bonfire if she had had her way with that Wasilla librarian?

Just how is it that Fannie and Freddie have cost taxpayers money (since they haven't yet)?

Tuesday, September 9, 2008

McCain: "I work for you"...REALLY??

http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/09/09/mccain.lobbying/index.html

7 Top McCain Officials are or were lobbyists!

One: Campaign manager Rick Davis is a major telecommunications lobbyist.

Two: Senior foreign policy adviser Randy Scheunemann recently faced scrutiny over his foreign lobbying on behalf of the Republic of Georgia, which has been embroiled in a military conflict with Russia.

Three: Senior adviser Charlie Black was a foreign lobbyist for dictators in Zaire and Angola in the 1980s, fodder for the liberal group MoveOn.org.

Four: Frank Donatelli, the Republican National Committee's liaison to the McCain campaign, has had clients including Exxon Mobil.

Five: Economic adviser Nancy Pfotenhauer has lobbied for corporate giants like Koch Industries.

The final two lobbyists are McCain's congressional liaison, John Green, and national finance Co-chairman Wayne Berman. They both lobbied for Fannie Mae, the troubled mortgage giant.

In addition at least 169 lobbyists run McCain's campaign.

Let's chant all together C.A.M. - CHANGE MY ASS!

Thursday, September 4, 2008

A few more facts about Sarah "Barracuda" Palin

Palin recently said that the war in Iraq is "God's task." She's even admitted she hasn't thought about the war much—just last year she was quoted saying, "I've been so focused on state government, I haven't really focused much on the war in Iraq."

Palin has actively sought the support of the fringe Alaska Independence Party. Six months ago, Palin told members of the group—who advocate for a vote on secession from the union—to "keep up the good work" and "wished the party luck on what she called its 'inspiring convention.'"

Palin wants to teach creationism in public schools. She hasn't made clear whether she thinks evolution is a fact.

Palin doesn't believe that humans contribute to global warming. Speaking about climate change, she said, "I'm not one though who would attribute it to being manmade."

Palin has close ties to Big Oil. Her inauguration was even sponsored by BP.

Palin is extremely anti-choice. She doesn't even support abortion in the case of rape or incest.

Palin opposes comprehensive sex-ed in public schools. She's said she will only support abstinence-only approaches.

As mayor, Palin tried to ban books from the library. Palin asked the library how she might go about banning books because some had inappropriate language in them—shocking the librarian, Mary Ellen Baker. According to Time, "news reports from the time show that Palin had threatened to fire Baker for not giving "full support" to the mayor."

She DID support the Bridge to Nowhere (before she opposed it). Palin claimed that she said "thanks, but no thanks" to the infamous Bridge to Nowhere. But in 2006, Palin supported the project repeatedly, saying that Alaska should take advantage of earmarks "while our congressional delegation is in a strong position to assist."

Obama campaign response to McCain's speech

“Tonight, John McCain said that his party was elected to change Washington, but that they let Washington change them. He’s right. He admonished the ‘old, do-nothing crowd’ in Washington, but ignored the fact that he’s been part of that crowd for twenty-six years, opposing solutions on health care, energy, and education. He talked about bipartisanship, but didn’t mention that he’s been a Bush partisan 90% of the time, that he’s run a Karl Rove campaign, and that he wants to continue this President’s disastrous economic and foreign policies for another four years. With John McCain, it’s more of the same.

“That’s not the change Americans need. Barack Obama has taken on the special interests and the lobbyists in Illinois and in Washington, and he’s won. As President, he’ll cut taxes for 95% of all working families, provide affordable health care to every American, end the tax breaks for companies that ship our jobs overseas, and eliminate the oil we import from the Middle East in ten years,” said Obama campaign spokesman Bill Burton.

McOil wants more nuclear power...

Just one word...Chernobyl

McCain, an agent of change?...

Ha ha ha...!

26 years in the Senate

169 lobbyists running his campaign

His "solutions" are just 20th century old republican ideas

McCain/Palin = 100% Recycled Bush/Cheney

10% Chance on Change (and is not guaranteed)

Fight with me!

Fight with me!, Fight with me!

Bomb, Bomb, Bomb Iran

100 years, 10,000 years if necessary in Iraq

The Russians are coming! Get Ready to go to war and destroy those communists bastards! (they hurt me so much for years while I was a POW and never got a chance for revenge)

Dull speech...as the speaker himself

McCain speech did not excite anyone. However that is not the important thing. McCain has nothing to offer in terms of ideas other than Bush's economics.

Hope is worthless

I need to check the transcripts, but at least two of the republican speakers downplay hope. It is not worth having hope according to the republicans. That is big difference between Obama and McCain and why Obama is winning and will win this election. It is not wise to tell a nation that is hurting in so many aspects that it is not worth to have HOPE.

Monday, September 1, 2008

Sarah Palin's 17 year old pregnant daughter is not the issue...McCain's judgement is the issue

This is serious business. Palin's pregnant daughter is not the issue. The real issue is McCain's ability to run things, do things right, do things professionally and his judgement.

It is clear that McCain did not do his homework when vetting Sarah Palin. McCain met Palin only once months ago and at some moment later had 15 minutes phone conversation with her. The next thing she was at one of McCain's houses in Arizona to be offered the job.

Is this the way McSame plans to run the nation? Shoot first and ask questions later. McCain's incompetence coupled with his temper and bellicose behavior only spells trouble for the nation.

With McBOOM as president, the next time he faces a Georgia crisis, he will explode again, as he did when faced with the Russia invasion of Georgia and without all the facts, push the red button and BOOM! we will be at WORLD WAR 3.